Great Comet Of 1812 Reveals Broadway Seating Shift

While Broadway continues to celebrate one of its most successful seasons in years, the community is already looking ahead to the 2016-17 season lining itself up with spectacular productions. One of those shows is already making headlines on Broadway breaking the norm, extending far beyond the usual proscenium bringing the audience to the show, quite literally, in a new fashion. Destined to be one of most unique theatrical productions Broadway has ever experienced, The Great Comet is making headlines again as it will reveal a making reworking of seating for Broadway’s Imperial Theatre. Today, Luner on Theatre brings you an exciting first look at the seating shift coming to Broadway’s Imperial Theatre for Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet Of 1812!

This first photo above shows how Great Comet will play in the area that is currently the front orchestra of the Imperial. The seats will be removed and replaced not only with the stage but tables and chairs for audience members to sit at. The existing stage, seen at the bottom most portion of the image, will be filled in with seats for audience members.

The photo above shows how Great Comet‘s unique extension into the theater will also effect the rear orchestra. The center rear orchestra will be split into two by a winding path that allows cast members to enter and exit the stage. In the photo below, you can see how there will not only be two staircases leading from the mezzanine to the stage but also two platforms for cast members as well.

When announcing it’s plan for Broadway, Great Comet promised to extend outside the usual proscenium of the theater space and continue to incorporate the unique feel and atmosphere it has carried in its Off-Broadway and A.R.T. productions. Such a large shift and re-configuration of seating for a Broadway theatre has not been seen in decades. While shows often move seats to create center aisles or even extend the stage, something this large has not been attempted on Broadway possibly ever. However, the ground plans above not only show but lay the foundation that Great Comet will without a doubt be a full theatrical experience involving the entire theatre into this production.

The last major stage into audience experience Broadway had been in 2014 when Rocky shifted its arena into the front orchestra during the final sequence of the musical. Audience members in these seats were relocated to the stage giving the show’s final moment a true arena feeling.

Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet Of 1812 will begin previews on Broadway in October 2016 before the show officially opens November 14th, 2016! Stay tuned for more updates as the Comet heads to Broadway at last!

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Luner on Theatre was a blog created for the sole purpose of being a forum for theatre discussion on the Internet and social networking sites. Luner on Theatre is not only a theatre news-reporting site source, but is also a site that works to publish topics that will spark discussion among those working in the theatre industry and the fans that support it.